4Then the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings to the people; and they all raised their voices, and wept. 5And just then, Saul came following the herd out of the field; and asked, “What ails the people that they weep?” And they told him the news of the men of Jabesh. 6And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard the tidings, and his anger was greatly kindled. 7And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the borders of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not come forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen”. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8And when he numbered them in Bezek, there were three hundred thousand, and of the men of Judah, thirty thousand.

9And they told the messengers who came, “Thus shall you say to the men of Jabesh-gilead, ‘Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have help’”. And the messengers came and told the men of Jabesh; and they were glad. 10Therefore the men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you, and you shall do with us all that seems good to you”. 11And on the next day Saul divided the men into three companies; and they came into the camp of the Ammonites during the morning watch, and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. And those that survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

12And the people said to Samuel, “Who are they who said, ‘Shall Saul reign over us?’ Bring them, that we may put them to death”. 13And Saul said, “No man shall be put to death this day; for today the LORD has brought salvation in Israel”. 14Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and reaffirm the kingdom there”. 15And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king in the presence of the LORD; and there they offered sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.